Pilkington says dividend is 'safe'

Glassmaker Pilkington said yesterday it expected full-year results to reveal the strongest cash performance in nearly a decade, as it moved to reassure investors the dividend was safe.

The company said market conditions remained challenging, with trading profits at its building products division expected to show a 20pc fall for the year to March.

But Stuart Chambers, chief executive, said the group's manufacturing base was now "as robust as any of our competitors". Pilkington shares, which hit a 20-year low of 43.25p earlier this month, gained 2.75 to 52.75.

Mr Chambers said: "Trading has been in line with expectations. In addition, our renewed emphasis on free cashflow generation will enable us to report our strongest cash performance since 1994."

He said he expected to deliver on promises, made last May, that free cashflow would cover the dividend and leave "a little bit left over".